Sectional grate



Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONAL GRATE ElmerAdam Kuntz, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,886

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a grate assembly comprising a carrier bar and aplurality of replaceable grate sections releasably mounted thereon. Forthe purpose of disclosure the present description is directedspecifically to a rocking grate for locomotives but it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied invarious types of grates for various fuel-burning devices, including bothstationary and traveling grates.

The general object of the invention is to provide a relatively lightcombination of carrier bar and grate sections that is inherently aircooled sufficiently to prevent sagging from overheating, is easilyassembled, and when assembled is both unified structurally andpositively locked against accidental disassembly.

The carrier bar is formed with at least one longitudinal shoulder forreleasable engagement by the grate sections, the grate sections beingsuccessively manipulated into engagement with the shoulder and thenmoved longitudinally of the carrier bar into final position. In suchconstructions heretofore employed in the art, the individual gratesections are commonly first tilted at an assembly station on the carrierbar and then swung into upright position for engagement with thelongitudinal shoulder or shoulders of the carrier bar. The usualdisadvantage is that the grate section last to be mounted is not asefliciently engaged with the carrier bar as the other grate sectionsand, moreover, remains at or near the assembly station where it may betilted out of engagement with the carrier bar by shock or someincidental force. A special object of my invention is to prevent suchaccidental release of the last assembled grate section and to providejust as efficient engagement for the last grate section as for theearlier assembled grate sections.

In general this special object is attained by providing each gratesection with at least two transverse downwardly extending anchoringwalls, forming the carrier bar with two assembly entrances spacedaccordingly, and providing a. key to block movement of the assembledgrate sections towards the two entrances.

Other objects of the invention, including objects relating to thespecific construction and arrangement of such a key, will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled grate, partly .in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carrier bar;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the assembled grate;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the assembled grate taken as indicatedby the line 4-4; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a grate section.

The grate assembly shown in the drawings includes a carrier bargenerally designated ii] on which is removably mounted a plurality ofgrate sections each generally designated l l. Each grate section i I hasa body portion l2 which is shown as flat, but may be of otherconfigurations. Each grate section It also has two spaced transverselypositioned downwardly extending anchoring portions preferably in theform of relatively thin Walls it cut away to provide two wall elementsto lie on opposite sides of the carrier bar.

The carrier bar IQ is shaped at its opposite ends to provide the usualcollars l6 and grate rocker trunnions ii, the trunnions being designedto rest rotatably in complementary sockets in some suitable grate frame(not shown). The body of the carrier bar l0 comprises two longitudinalwebs 29 positioned apart from each other to form a longitudinalair-cooling space 2|. The two webs 2B are interconnected by the integralend portions of the carrier bar and also by two low lying integral walls22, the two walls 22 being the upper portions of two downwardlyextending shaper'or rocker arms 23. Each of the rocker arms 23 is shownwith a transverse bore 25 for pivotal connection with a suitable reachbar in the wellknown manner.

At least one, and in the preferred construction both, of thelongitudinal webs 20 provides suitable longitudinal shoulders that areto be releasab-ly engaged by the anchoring portions or anchoring wallsl3 of the grate sections. While the lower edges of the two webs mayserveas such engagement shoulders, I prefer to form the webs withlongitudinal ribs 26 on their outer faces, each rib providing adownwardly facing engagement shoulder 21. walls I3 of the grate sectionsl I is suitably recessed or otherwise shaped to provide a complementaryshoulder 28 for anchoring engagement with the rib shoulder 21. Inassembled position the weight of the grate section I I is dividedbetween the two carrier bar webs 20 and may be carried directly by theribs 26 on the sides of the Web or may, as indicated in the drawings, becarried on the top edges of the webs.

To permit mounting and dismounting of the Various grate sections H, theengagement shoul- Each of the transverse anchoring ders 21 areinterrupted to provide two spaced entrances corresponding to the twospaced anchoring walls [3 of a grate section, the two spaced entrancesconstituting an assembly station at which the grate sections may besuccessively moved into and out of engagement with the carrier bar ID.For example, as shown in the drawings, each of the ribs 26 may beinterrupted to provide two spaced gaps or assembly entrances 30 and 3]thereby dividing the engagement rib into a relatively long main portion32, a short intermediate portion 33, and a short end portion 35 adjacentone of the collars l6.

A grate section II may be placed in upright attitude as indicated by thedotted position 36 in Fig. 1, and moved directly downward to a positionwith the anchoring walls 13 of the grate section extending through theentrances 3fl and 31;

from which position the grate section may be moved leftward as viewedin1 to a position of final assembly on the carrier bar. As indicated inFig. '1, all but the last grate section II to be mounted on the carrierbar lil engages the main rib portion 32 with both of its twoanchoringwalls I3 but the last grate section to be mounted on the carrier barengages the main rib; portion 32 with one of its anchoring walls '113and engages the intermediate rib -portion 33 with'its second anchoringwall. Becausethe two anchoring walls l3 of the last grate se'ction arespaced a substantial distance apart, the weight of the carrier b ar l 0'may be lightened by making the entrance re t rel w ajas shown,-v J

jIfhe body portions l2 of fthefgrate sections H are provided withnumerous'apertures 3! to permit air iiow 'upward through the grateassembly anda feature o m finve io'n 1 h? la' i' s o number of theapertures 31 infcommunication with the cooling space lljof thecarrierbar so that the c o ing "s'pac'eiin combination witha'pl llalityof theaperturesi'l provides ior upward flow of in jsuilicient volume tokeep the "carrier bar frornfbecorning so 'overheat'ed 'as'to sag underthe weight imposed thereon.

Preferably 'as indicated in Fig. 4 the longitudinal 'w ebs Zi l of 1th ecarri' r bar are inclined inwardly 'sfofthat in cross "section the"coolin space "2 I "narrows progressively upwardly. to progressivelyincrease the velocitypi theffioolingjair currentsjfonn aximum coolingefiect'towardsftl ije upper edges of the supporting webs 'Zil. It willbe noted that the wh'ole of the'assembled grate is designed to favorhighly effective air cooling, being of open construction withext'ensivecooling surfa'ees. The'anchorin'gwalls 'l3 oi the grate sections as wellasthe 'iongitudinalfribsof the ear i r b3 1 3? la yi y t i hl exposedareas and servenot only as functional structure butfal'so as coolingfins.

leasably retain the assembled grate sections in the desirable assemblyposition "shown in "Fig. 1. In the preferred practice of my invention"when the gr'ate sections I iare'in'finfal "assemble'd'positions asshown in'F-ig. 1, they define with the carrierbar Hi what may be termedakey 'space 33 into which akey' 4D or'other suitable means may beinserted as a positive block against movement of the assembledgrate'sectionstowards the'rib entrancesSQ and3l. Itwill be noted thatthelast-mountedgratesection 'II i'njits assemble'd position "overhangsthe "narrower entrance 30 and that the key space 38 'is directly nysuitable meansmay be employed. tore The key 40 may be, as shown, in theform of a plate similar in profile to the grate sections II, the platehaving a thick head portion 4| to occupy most of the width of the keyspace 38. After the grate sections II are in their final assembledpositions, the described arrangement is such that the key 40 may betilted as indicated by the dotted position 42 in Fig. 1 and while inthis tilted attitude may be advanced diagonally into the key space 38,the leading portions of the inclined key passing into the narrowedentrance 30. If necessary, the end portion 35 of the engagement rib 26on each side of the carrier bar may be beveled as shown at 43 to provideclearance for inserting the tilted key.

Thetilted key 40 is stopped by contact with the upper edges of thecarrier bar webs 20 and is so proportioned that the center of gravity ofthe key lies substantially below the level of such contact. As a resultof its low center gravity, the key, when released in it's tiltedposition, tends to swing into the normal upright position shown in solidlines in Fig. 1. As the key swings from its tilted position to itsnormal upright position, it automatically enters into locking engagementwith the end portion 35 of the rib. Once in normal locking position thekey has an inherent gravitational tendency to maintain that position atall times.

It is important to note that the last grate section [I to be mounted onthe carrier bar I0 is just'as effectively and positively anchored to thecarrier bar as the preceding three grate sections and cannot be tiltedor jarred out of engagement. Whenever it is necessary 'or desirable toreplace one of the assembled grate sections, the key 40 is manipulatedout of the key space 38 to permit the reverse ordisassmbly procedure. Itis not difiicult to tilt the "key manually and withdraw the key'and yetthedegree to which the key must be tilted-for withdrawal and theinherent gravitation'altendency toiresistsuch tilting effectivelyprevent accidental dislodgement of the key.

The preferred form of my'invention described in specific detail hereinwill suggest to those skilled in the 'art various changes I andsubstitutions under'my basic'concept and I reserve the right to all suchdepartures from my description that properly lie withinthe scopeof myappended claims.

I claim: i v e U 1. In a grate *of the character described, thecombination of a plurality of grate sections each having af body portionto support burning fuel and two spaced downwardly extendinganchoringportionsacarrier bar to receive and support sai'dgratesections, said carrier'bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder toengage sai'cl anchoring portionsof the grate sections, said engagementshoulder being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spacedlongitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a-gratesection simultaneouslyinto andout 'of positions from which the gratesections maybe moved longitudinally of'the" grate bar into'lndividualengagement with saidshoulder, said plurality of g'rate sections when inassembled positiondefining'withsaid carrier bar'a space in the path ormovement of thef-gratesect-ions towards said shoulder entrances, and-a"key to fit into said space for blocking movement of the ass'emlble'dgrate sections towards said shoulder entrances, said key resting on saidcarrier "bar above ftl'ie center of gravity of the 'key'to have'aninherent tendency to maintain a locking position, saidk'e'y beinginsertable into said space at a position tilted fromsaid lockingposition and being adapted for automatic engagement with the carrier barupon gravitational rotation from the tilted position to its lockingposition.

2. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a pluralityof grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel andtwo spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions, said anchoringportions being set inwardly from the transverse edges of the gratesection, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, saidcarrier bar being formed with trunnions and adjacent collars at eachend, said carrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder toengage said anchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagementshoulder being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spacedlongitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions or a gratesection simultaneously into and out of positions from which the gratesections may be moved longitudinally of the carrier bar into individualengagement with said shoulder, one of said entrances being spacedlongitudinally of the carrier bar from one of said collars to leave ashort locking portion of said shoulderadjacent the collar, saidplurality of grate sections when in assembled position overhanging saidentrance nearest said collar and defining with said collar a key spacein the path of movement of the grate sections towards said entrances-anda key for insertion in tilted attitude into a positionoccupying saidspace and extending into one of said entrances, said key being shaped torest on said carrier bar above the center of gravity of the key wherebythe key rotates gravitationally from said tilted attitude into lockingengagement with said locking portion of the shoulder.

3. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a carrierbar, the body of which comprises two spaced longitudinal webs forming aninner longitudinal cooling space, at least one of said webs having alongitudinal engagement shoulder interrupted to provide two assemblyentrances spaced longitudinally of the bar, a plurality of gratesections for assembly on said carrier bar, each of said grate sectionshaving a body portion to support burning fuel and having two spaceddownwardly extending transverse anchoring portions formed for engagementwith said shoulder, said anchoring portions being spaced forsimultaneous movement into said entrances, said plurality of gratesections when in assembled position defining with said carrier bar aspace in the path of movement of the grate sections towards saidentrances, and a key for insertion in tilted attitude into a positionoccupying said space and extending into one of said entrances, said keybeing shaped to rest .on said carrier bar above the center of gravity ofthe key whereby the key tends to rotate gravitationally from said tiltedattitude into a normal position in said space, said key being adaptedfor engagement with the carrier bar when in said normal position.

4. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a pluralityof grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel andtwo spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent tothe ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center linethereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, saidcarrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage saidanchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder orshoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spacedlongitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a gratesection simultaneously into and out of positions from which the gratesections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individualengagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sec tions when inassembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path ofmovement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, saidspace and the longitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagementof both anchoring portions of each of said grate sections with saidshoulder being small as compared to the width of the gratesection, and arelatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, for blockingmovement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulder entrances,and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar.

5. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a pluralityof grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel andtwo spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent tothe ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center linethereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, saidcarrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage saidanchoring por tions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder orshoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spacedlongitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a gratesection simultaneously into and out of positions from which the gratesections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individualengagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sections when inassembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path ofmovement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, saidspace andthe longitudinal movement necessary to eiTect the engagement ofboth anchoring portions of each of said grate sections With saidshoulder being small as compared to the width of the grate section, anda relatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, forblocking movement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulderentrances, and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar, saidkey being insertable into said space from a tilted position and thenrotated to a locking position,

6. In a grate of the character described, the combination of a pluralityof grate sections each having a body portion to support burning fuel andtwo spaced downwardly extending anchoring portions located adjacent tothe ends of the grate sections on opposite sides of the center linethereof, a carrier bar to receive and support said grate sections, saidcarrier bar having at least one longitudinal shoulder to engage saidanchoring portions of the grate sections, said engagement shoulder orshoulders being interrupted in length to provide two entrances spacedlongitudinally of the bar to pass the two anchoring portions of a gratesection simultaneously into and out of positions from which the gratesections may be moved longitudinally of the grate bar into individualengagement with said shoulder, said plurality of grate sections when inassembled position defining with said carrier bar a space in the path ofmovement of the grate sections toward said shoulder entrances, saidspace and the longitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagementof both anchoring portions of each of said rate secti ns with. sai shoulr b i mall as o pared to he Width o the ate se tion, an a relativelynarrow key, insertable within said mal space. tor b ock n mevemerit oihe a mhie te e t ons wa d sa d sh u d r tr inees a a ng n e l k e aement with said carrier bar, said lgey having a portion adapte o e pon te ear ie ba and a do w rd depending anchoring portion, said latterportion e ng ada ed to pas hro h n o ai e tranoes in the shoulder whenthe key moved into s t on while i t d wit e ect to he car ier b r. and.t e swun o its n al lo positio wi h the ane erme nor en i sa d e iengagement h th shb lde ei the c ier arl, .In rate of t e e are r dribed). he eenii e a plur i q g ate s c io s e h. ha ing a b y P rt n 9supp r burnin fii e n t qe eed de d t din h riiepriien o t d edi t to tends o t grate se tions on opposite sides of the center line mer te a a:in reeei e and sup or said grate bar into individual. engagement withSai shouldensaid plurality of grate sections when in assembled positiondefining with said carrier bar a space in the path of movement of thegrate sec,- tions toward said shoulder entrances, said space and thelongitudinal movement necessary to effect the engagement'of bothanchoring portions of each of said'grate'sections with said shoulderbe:- in sma'll; as compared to the width of the rate section, and arelatively narrow key, insertable within said small space, for bloqkingmovement of the assembled grate sections toward said shoulder entrances,and having interlocked engagement with said carrier bar.

ELMER' ADAM aeFEaii QEe. Q IE The following references are of record inthe file'of this patent:

